02NR28 - MRF and AMA Working Together on Motorcycling Issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Buck KittredgeE-Mail: buck@mrf.org October 4, 2002#02NR28 - MRF and AMA Working Together on Motorcycling Issues

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) held its annual national conference, the Meeting of the Minds, in Lansing, Michigan, from September 26-29, 2002. Just prior to this meeting, the MRF was successful in having legislation introduced in Congress to counter the new proposed rules and standards to be imposed on street bikes by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It had been reported that American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) met with the bill sponsor to voice objections to the bill. On Friday, September 27, 2002, the leadership of MRF and AMA met to discuss strategies regarding the EPA's proposed regulations for street motorcycles.

The MRF and the AMA, as major national leaders in motorcycling issues, are both committed to communicating clearly with each other and working side by side on all of the issues that face motorcyclists today, so this meeting was very important for the members of both organizations. The result of this meeting between the MRF and the AMA is that a better understanding now exists on how we can support each other, even though we may choose different approaches to a particular issue.

The AMA indicated that it would not oppose the MRF's legislative efforts to meet this EPA attack on motorcycling, the small volume motorcycle manufacturers and the extensive after market. The AMA has chosen to pursue the regulatory side of the EPA issues for its constituency, while the MRF will pursue both regulatory and legislative avenues.

After meeting with the AMA, MRF President Buck Kittredge addressed the Meeting of the Minds attendees and reported that the MRF and the AMA have resolved to work together on all of the numerous issues facing motorcyclists today, including the proposed EPA regulations, health insurance issues, and the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21).

President Kittredge reminded the attendees at the Meeting of the Minds that this is not the first time the MRF and the AMA have had a difference of opinion on the approach to an issue. However, the MRF and the AMA have always strived to work together and the attendees were assured that we will continue to work together to succeed for the betterment of motorcycling.

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